The process of deporting undocumented Afghan refugees and Afghan Citizen Card holders is continuing to pick up pace since the end of the March 31 deadline by the government.

According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Ministry, a total of 153 people were repatriated through Torkham on Wednesday. Another 16 families were sent to Afghanistan on Thursday and Friday, including at least 32 men, 37 women and 83 children according to Khyber Deputy Commissioner Shahid Bilal.

Meanwhile, more refugees continue to be brought from all over to the country to Torkham for deportation. At least 350 refugees were brought to Torkham from Punjab on Friday, while another 260 are expected to arrive from the province on Saturday. Another 129 refugees who were brought from Islamabad and one refugee brought from Gilgit Baltistan will also be deported today.

The refugees stay at Landi Kotal transit camp until their paperwork is completed. A NADRA team from the district that the refugees come from is also present to complete the documentation.

Since the government announced a repatriation process for Afghan refugees in 2023, 878,972 Afghans have voluntarily left for their home country, according to Radio Pakistan. However, over 1.3 million continue to reside in Pakistan.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called on the Pakistani government to review the matter through a ‘humanitarian lens’. On the other hand, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has stressed the repatriation process will be carried out with dignity.